There is a South African wine trade mission in Manila and I was able to tag along to the tasting of the wines at the Shangri-La hotel this morning.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to make any detailed notes on the wines as I was rather pressed for time but I did take down some impressions which are useful to me and which might be useful to others as well.
Lammershoek Winery:
Aprilskloof Red Wine 2005 - This has everything in it: Pinotage, Zin, Cab, Merlot, Grenache, Shiraz, Carignan and even a little Viognier. New oak on the nose. Ripe and sweet. Good.
Roulette Blanc 2006 - Another wine with a strange mix of grapes: Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Harslevelu (!), and, although the brochure doesn't mention it, the owner said it also has Rousanne. Medium gold. Sweet, rounded, full and quite complex. Captivating and a real pleasure to drink. Excellent stuff. I thought this was the most interesting wine at the tasting.
Roulette 2005 - If I remember right, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and a little Viognier. Rhonish, quite easy to drink. Tobacco and leather. Very good.
Kaapzicht Wine Estate
Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Good fruit on nose but restrained on palate. Good.
Sweet Chenin Blanc 2007 - Medium bodied. Good amount of sweetness and quite smooth. Very good.
Bin 3 2005 - Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruity, sweet, easy. Good.
Shiraz 2005 - Full, tannic, spicy. Good.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - Dry, despite being nearly 6 years old, still very tannic. Needs food. Will last a long time. Good.
Steytler Pinotage 2004 - Full and tannic. There is a slight ruberiness on the nose and the finish. I suspect not a style for everyone but I thought it was very good.
Steytler Vision 2004 - Cab Sauv, Pinotage, Merlot. Lots of ripe fruit character up front. Spicy, Very long finish. Good balance. Quite forward and ready to drink. Classy wine. Excellent.
Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards
TMV Swartland Syrah 2006 - Very tannic, leather, spice. Closed for the most part.
TMV Viktoria 2005 - Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Cabernet. Good Cotes du Rhone imitation. Quite dry. Very good.
TMV White 2006 - Chenin Blanc with a little Clairette and Viognier. Light and easy with some sweet, slightly overripe character which gives it a good complexity. Very good.
TMV Syrah Mourvedre 2004 - Certified Organic. I seem to have overlooked taking notes on this wine.
Mont du Toit
Mont du Toit 2003 - Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah. Sweet fruit. Good.
Le Sommet 2003 - Bordeaux blend plus Syrah. Sweet fruit, tobacco, spice, tannic. Very good.
Mooiplaas Wine Estate
Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Surprisingly soft and easy but finishes crisp. Good.
Chenin Blanc Bush Vine 2006 - Very fragrant. Easy wine. Good.
Pinotage 2003 - Soft, fruity, spicy. Good.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - Very dry and tannic. Seemed closed. Good.
Shiraz 2003 - Dry, spicy, leather, tobacco. Quite long. Good.
Rosalind 2003 - Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz. Beautiful, well-balanced wine. Excellent.
Meerendal Wine Estate
Sauvignon Blanc 2006 - Restrained fruit. Good.
Merlot 2005 - Very fragrant. Good.
Pinotage 2004 - Tannic and spicy. Good.
There were no duds among the wines presented and I highly recommend the Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2006, Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2004 and the Mooiplaas Rosalind 2003.